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Liles tames Lake Wales

Ryan Lavner, Highlands Today

Lefty Evan Danzey hits his approach shot into the par-3 fifth hole Thursday at Lake Wales Country Club, site of the ninth Sertoma Junior Golf Tour event.

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By RYAN LAVNER

Highlands Today

Published: August 8, 2009

LAKE WALES - The Bermuda rough was thick and sticky, throwing approach shots off target.

The temperatures climbed into the mid-90s, making a long round on a difficult track even more grueling. And the stakes couldn't be higher, magnifying every miscue.

None of it seemed to bother Blake Liles.

The Sebring senior fired a 6-over 78 on Thursday to capture the ninth Sertoma Junior Golf Tour event at Lake Wales Country Club.

With the win, his third of the season, Liles moved ahead of idle Greg Gentry in the boys 17-18 points standings with the two-day Tour Championship at Sun 'N Lake Country Club looming next weekend.

"The course played tough for the kids," said Andy Kesling, director of the Sertoma Junior Golf Tour. "It's a good experience for them to play in difficult conditions like that, and it's fun to see what these kids are made of."

It certainly wasn't easy, as Liles wasn't the only golfer who saw his score soar on the demanding 6,857-yard layout, which was in pristine condition for the 60 golfers on Thursday morning.

Six of the seven age groups were determined by five strokes or fewer, including two divisions - the boys 11-12 and girls 14-18 - that needed extra holes.

Nic Staffieri carded a bogey on the second playoff hole to stave off Dustin Baber and Justin Mason, all of whom shot 50 during their nine-hole round. And after each shot 87 in regulation, Camiel White played three extra holes before a par at No. 3 was enough to defeat Paige Moffat.

"It's good to get the kids those experiences," Kesling said, "because there's nothing more pressure-packed than sudden-death golf."

Trailing Liles in the boys 17-18 division was Clay Davis and John Tracey, both of whom tied for second after shooting an 80.

Tour leader Sean Garner tied the low round of the day (78) to win the boys 15-16 division, followed by Daniel Miller (83), Taylor Barlow (87) and Lincoln Saunders (87), who now trails Garner by 2-1/2 points entering the final event of the season.

"That race has been going back and forth all season," Kesling said. "And now it's going to come down to the final tournament."

In the boys 13-14 division, Will Bennett (89) cruised to a five-shot win over William Beattie (94). Joey Staffieri finished third after a 96.

The aforementioned boys 11-12 division, won by Nic Staffieri in a three-way playoff, was the most competitive on Thursday, as seven golfers finished within four shots of the lead.

Sam Weber-Callahan carded a 52 during his nine-hole round in the boys 9-10 division to win easily, and Zach Doorlag shot 44 over six holes to win the boys 6-8 group.

Kendall Griffin fired a 55, and Emily Wallen shot 58 to pace the girls 10-13 division, which played nine holes.

After nearly two months of low scores, thrilling victories and back-and-forth battles, the Sertoma Junior Golf Tour will wrap up next weekend during the two-day Tour Championship at Sun 'N Lake Country Club.

SERTOMA GOLF RESULTS

See Page 2 for results from Thursday's Sertoma Junior Golf event.

Ryan Lavner can be reached at 863-386-5841 or rlavner@highlandstoday.com.

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